Upgrade your Shimano Reel

Drive gear bushing (round blue object)

This is a common sight for budget Shimano reels when you open the reel, the sickening sight of bushing for the drive gear.

Nothing wrong with them actually, but after using my Shimano AX 1000 FB for a period of time without any modifications, it start to act up a little. The inertia force required to start cracking increases, however once it gets going everything is back to normal.

It can be a simple fix, just one drop of oil on the two bushing will solve the issue. But since I intend to keep this reel for a while, and use it for small game, I might just as well do the upgrade as well.

The upgrade is as simple as it gets, use this as a reference to how to dismantle your reel.


Reel -  Shimano AX 1000 FB
Item required

• 2 x Ball Bearing 7x13x4mm

• Oil for bearing

• Necessary tools

Look how much grease is in it

Once you open up the internal of the reel, it will look like the picture on the Top and Right. The bushing are the blue circular object, they are the one that supports the Drive Gear. The Drive Gear would turns whenever you turn the handle, thus by changing to ball bearing would enhance the fishing experience.

The next step is to remove bushing and pop in the next bearings. Oil the bearing before assemble the reel.



It could be fast and easy, but if there is a lot of loose play on the handle or hard to crack after you assemble, then you might need to adjust the number shims used.

I have to do the adjustment a few time to get it right, now the pinion gear and drive gear are tightly mashed, and very little loose play in the handle. Feel very good!